Wallace a



(No Model.)

W. A. BARTLETT. PNEUMATIQ GANNON.

Patented Mar. 4, 1884.

Un'rrnn Status Patent rricie i VALLACE A. BARTLETT, OF VASHINGTON, DIST'R'ICT OF GOLUMIA.

PNEUMATIC CANNON.

sPnoIrIeAT'IoN ferming pert of Letters Patent Ne. 294,850, eetea March 4, 1884.. Application filed January 8, 1884. (No model.)

` matic cannon, or similar guns which operate by the pressure of an elastic gas generated or contained under pressure -in a receptacle or flask separate from the gun-tube.

The invention consists in certain improvements in the gun-tube; also i-n the mechanism by which the gun-tube is supplied from the fiask, and the mechanism connecting the same; also in the mechanism by which the gun is trained. The obj ect of the invention is to produce a gun capable of throwing projectilesl loaded with dynamite or other high explosives withi out danger of bursting in thergun.

In the drawings, Figure 30 represents a side elevation of the gun mounted. Fig. 31 is a longitudinal section of a portion of the guntube proper. Fig. 32 is a section of the guntube and its cruciform sleeve. elevation, and Fig. 34aperspeetive,ofasection or part of the cruciform re-enforcing sleeve. Fig. 35 is a section of the'trunnion-piece, and Fig. 36 an enlarged view of a portion of the same. Fig. 37 is a rear elevation of the trunnion-piece and its standards.

The gun tube or barrel is indicated by numerals 13. This tube is made of sections of suitable length, and is peculiar in this, that no particular care is necessary to secure a perfeet finish to the interior of the breech-sections, any ordinarily smooth tubing being adapted for the purpose. The muzzle-section, however, which need not be of great length, is carefully bored out and finished internally, and may be a shade smaller in-dianieter than the breech-sections. The purpose of this construction is to economize in cost. As the muzzle-section is the one that gives the direction to the projectile, it is'carefully finished internally. The other sections, not being exposed to the action of penetrating gases, like pow- 'der-gas, need no special adaptation for this Fig. 33 is an gun. I propose to use or'dinary mandreldrawn brass, steel, or similar tubing for all but the muzzle-section of the gun-tube. The gun-tube is not exposed to severe strains, except the bending strain due to its extreme length. The tube is therefore stiffened by an external sleeve, having iianges to give stiffness. The sleeve 23 is preferably made in sections or lengths, which lengths may be bolted together. The lengths are made up of pieces (ti, which are either cast or struck up. By preferenee four of these pieces or quarters, a, are used to make up the sleeve, but a greater or less number may be used. The pieces a have a concavo-convex portion adapted to fit the eXterior of the gun-tube, and have flanges a a, which are radial to the gun-tube when applied thereto. If the sleeve be made in guarters, as here represented, the quarters will be bolted together around the gun-tube by bolts extending through the flanges. It is obvious that the same cruciform shape may be secured by making the pieces half-circles instead of quadrants, the alternate flanges in such case being fornied on the half-circlesthat is, two of the quadrants may be made in one instead of being bolted together. The ends of the cruciform sleeve also have projecting flanges, which are sectors of circles, as shown at (e23 a. These flanges serve as a means of securing the sections together end to end, so that the sleeve may be of any desired length.

The gun-tube passes through a trunnionpiece, b, which has trunnions c, which have bearingsiin standards d. The trunnionpiece is a disk, or a part of a disk or cylinder, having axial trunnions projecting therefronr, and is perforated diametrically, or nearly so, as at 83, for the passage of the gun-tube. The sleeve may be stepped in the trunnion-piece, or may pass through it, the fianges being in such case suitably constructed or the trunnion-pieee may have projecting wings, to which the guntube support or sleeve may be fastened. Below the perforation for the gun-tube the trunnion-piece has a perforation forming an augular passage-way, like an elbow, as shown at f. This elbow serves as a connecting passage from the space 93, which communcates with the fiask 33. The supply-pipe 4:* connects with IOO the outer end of this elbow, and leads to the breech of the gun-tube, either through the breech-block, as represented, or in other suitable manner, as described in other applications of even date herewith. The trunnionpiece bi* thus forms a movable or rotatable joint, through which there is communication from the fiasl: to the supply-pipe, and so to the breech of the gun.H To secure atight joint, the edges of the supporting-piece If are made thin, so that the gas-pressure at the points x3 x3 serves to seal the joint tightly. The lower edge of the passagef3 is also undercut, so that if the gun is swung so far on its trunnions as to pass the edge ;1/3 beyond the edge x3 the back-pressure of the gas in the passage f3 will,

cause the edge 3/3 to act as a vgas-check and close the joint against leakage.

The air-fiask represented is merely a cylindrical reservoir, into which compressed air may be forced in any suitable manner, preferably through a bottom pivot. The flask thus serves as a gun-carriage, and may be turned on its pivot to train the gun, or the part hf may revolve 011 top of the flask, the joint being suitably packed.

The gun is intended to be loaded by placing a projectile in the breech, and discharged by the sudden opening of the valve which closes the passage from the flask to the gun-tube.

The gun may be trained in any suitable or usual manner, as by a screw or bya shoulderpiece.

The gun-tube may be adj usted with relation to the inclosing-sleeve, if necessary, by set.- screws, wedges, or by suitable packing. For a more particular description of modes of adjustment see other applications filed by me of even date herewith.

I claim- 1. The barrel or tube of a pneumatic cannon inade in sections, the hrcech-sections of ordinary tnbing, (not bored out,) and the muzzle-section of bored and finished tubing, substantially as described.

2. The combination, With a gun-tube, of an inclosing-sleeve divided longitudinally into sections, and having radial ilanges, and mechanism by which the fianges are secured together. substantially as described.

3. The trunnion-piece' having tubular connection with the gas-flash and with the guntube, substantiallyas described, the gun-tube supported by said trnnnionpiece, and a strengthening-sleeve for said gun-tube, having a bearing on said trunnion-piece, all in combination, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination, with a gun-tube, of an inclosing-sleeve composed of sections having radial and annular 'flanges adapted to be united, substantially as described.

5. The combination, with a gun-tube, of a strengthening-sleeve composed of four parts, each having a concavo-convex portion and side and end fianges, as described, which parts,

'when united, form a cruciform sleeve, substantially as described.

6. The combination, with the air-flask, of the trunnion-piece which supports the guntube and supply-pipe, substantially as described,said fiask connectingwiththe trunnionpiece through a Chamber, g, in part 71,3, which part has edges x3 x3, made thin to serve as gasclosing joints, substantiaily as described.

In tetimony whereof I -atfiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WALLAoE A. BRTLETT.

Vitnessesz' PrnLrr HAWLEY, G. W. BROWN. 

